Which Chicken Breeds Lay the Bluest Eggs? Complete Guide for Backyard Flock Owners

Ever opened your egg carton to find a stunning blue surprise nestled among the traditional whites and browns? If you’re like me, the thrill of collecting colorful eggs never gets old! After years of raising backyard chickens, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with finding breeds that lay the most vibrant blue eggs possible

In this guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about blue egg-laying chickens, from purebreds to designer hybrids, and help you discover which breed truly lays the BLUEST eggs of all. Whether you’re an experienced chicken keeper or just planning your first flock, this colorful egg journey is gonna be a fun one!

What Makes Chicken Eggs Blue Anyway?

Before diving into specific breeds let’s understand what actually gives blue eggs their distinctive color

Blue eggs get their unique color from a pigment called oocyanin, which is deposited onto the eggshell as it forms in the hen’s oviduct. Unlike brown eggs, where the pigment (protoporphyrin) is applied primarily to the outer layer, the blue pigment penetrates the entire eggshell.

This means that blue eggs are blue both inside and out! If you crack open a blue egg and look at the shell from the inside, you’ll still see that lovely blue color. In contrast, brown eggs are white on the inside because their pigment is only applied to the outer surface.

Purebreds vs. Hybrids: Understanding Blue Egg Layers

When shopping for blue egg layers, you’ll encounter two main categories:

Purebred Blue Egg Layers:

• Bred according to strict standards (American Poultry Association)
• Consistently lay blue eggs with little variation
• Blue pigment throughout the entire shell
• Higher price tag due to their purebred status

Hybrid Blue Egg Layers:

• Don’t breed true (offspring may not lay the same color eggs)
• Can produce eggs in surprising variations of blue, green, or even olive
• Often more affordable and widely available
• Many hatcheries create their own proprietary hybrids with unique names

Now, let’s get to the question everyone wants answered…

What Chicken Breed Lays the BLUEST Eggs?

Based on extensive research and feedback from experienced chicken keepers, these breeds consistently produce the deepest, most vibrant blue eggs:

1. Ameraucana

Purebred Ameraucanas are widely regarded as one of the most reliable producers of truly blue eggs. Their eggs range from a medium sky blue to a deeper turquoise blue, depending on the individual hen and breeding program.

Many chicken enthusiasts agree that well-bred Ameraucanas from reputable breeders often lay the most consistently vibrant blue eggs. They have beautiful beards and muffs, giving them a distinctive appearance that separates them from other blue egg layers.

2. Araucana

The Araucana is another purebred that lays genuinely blue eggs. They’re quite unique with their rumpless appearance (no tail) and ear tufts. Their eggs are typically light blue to sky blue, occasionally with a slight bluish-white sheen.

While beautiful, true Araucanas are harder to find and more expensive than Ameraucanas because they carry a lethal gene that affects hatch rates, making them somewhat rare.

3. Cream Legbar

Cream Legbars are another purebred option known for laying beautiful pastel blue to blue-green eggs. They’re unique because they’re auto-sexing (you can tell males from females as day-old chicks), and they sport adorable crests on their heads.

4. Whiting True Blue

Developed by poultry geneticist Dr. Tom Whiting, these birds were specifically bred to lay consistently vibrant blue eggs. Though relatively new, many chicken keepers report that Whiting True Blues produce some of the most intensely colored blue eggs available.

5. Easter Eggers

While not technically a breed but rather a hybrid, Easter Eggers can sometimes lay the most vibrant blue eggs of all! The catch is their inconsistency – some lay beautiful sky blue eggs, while others might lay green, olive, or even cream-colored eggs. It’s a bit of a genetic lottery, but when you get a blue egg layer, they can be spectacular.

Designer Breeds That Lay Stunning Blue Eggs

Hatcheries have been busy creating specialty hybrids specifically designed to lay beautiful blue eggs:

Super Blue Egger

Created exclusively for My Pet Chicken, this hybrid lays large, vibrant blue eggs (5-6 per week). The blue shade can range from pale to intense blue.

Steel Egger

These striking birds with splash or blue plumage lay steel-blue eggs. They typically produce 3-5 eggs weekly in shades of blue to green.

Sapphire Jewel

A Meyer Hatchery exclusive, these prolific layers produce an impressive 6-7 blue eggs weekly! They have white feathers with gray or black flecks.

Prairie Bluebell Egger

Developed by crossing Araucana roosters with White Leghorn hens, these active birds lay up to 5 blue eggs per week and are available exclusively from Hoover’s Hatchery.

Azure Blue

True to their name, these modern hybrids lay eggs in a stunning, clear azure shade that’s truly eye-catching.

My Personal Experience with Blue Egg Layers

On my homestead, I’ve raised several blue egg layers over the years, and I’ve found that pure Ameraucanas consistently give me the most vibrant blue eggs. However, I’ve also had Easter Eggers that produced equally stunning blue eggs (alongside others that laid green or olive).

What I’ve noticed is that egg color often fades slightly as hens age – a deep blue egg from a young pullet might become more pastel as she gets older. This happens with all egg colors, not just blue.

I also found that diet and environment can subtly influence egg color intensity. Well-nourished hens with access to plenty of greens and a balanced diet seem to lay more vibrant eggs overall.

Choosing the Right Blue Egg Layer for Your Flock

When deciding which blue egg layer to add to your backyard flock, consider these factors:

• Egg Color Consistency: If you want guaranteed blue eggs, go with purebreds like Ameraucanas or Araucanas. If you’re open to variety, Easter Eggers can be fun (and less expensive).

• Temperament: Most blue egg layers are friendly, but Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers are particularly known for their gentle dispositions.

• Climate Adaptation: Consider your local weather – Ameraucanas and Araucanas handle cold well with their small pea combs, while hybrids vary in hardiness.

• Availability and Price: Purebreds cost more and can be harder to find than hybrids like Easter Eggers, which are widely available at most hatcheries.

• Egg Production Rate: Some blues lay more consistently than others – Cream Legbars and many hybrids like Sapphire Jewels are excellent producers.

Where to Buy Blue Egg Laying Chickens

If you’re ready to add some blue egg layers to your flock, here are some reputable sources:

• My Pet Chicken – Offers several blue egg layers including Ameraucanas, Easter Eggers, and their exclusive Super Blue Eggers
• Meyer Hatchery – Carries Sapphire Jewels, Lakeside Eggers, Steel Eggers, and other blue egg layers
• Cackle Hatchery – One of the few large hatcheries selling purebred Araucanas
• Hoover’s Hatchery – Exclusive source for Prairie Bluebell Eggers
• Murray McMurray – Sells Whiting True Blues among other varieties

For the rarest breeds like Schijndelaars, check specialty breeders like Greenfire Farms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Egg Layers

Q: Do blue egg layers produce fewer eggs than traditional breeds?
A: Not necessarily! Many blue egg layers like Cream Legbars and hybrids like Sapphire Jewels are excellent producers, laying 4-6 eggs weekly.

Q: Do blue eggs taste different than white or brown eggs?
A: Nope! Egg color is just shell-deep. The taste depends on the chicken’s diet, not the eggshell color.

Q: Are blue eggs healthier than white or brown eggs?
A: There’s no nutritional difference based on shell color. All eggs have similar nutritional value when chickens are fed the same diet.

Q: How can I tell if a chicken will lay blue eggs before it starts laying?
A: Unfortunately, you can’t predict with 100% certainty unless you know the bird’s genetics. With purebreds like Ameraucanas, you can be confident, but with hybrids like Easter Eggers, it’s always a surprise!

Q: Will my blue egg layers always produce the same shade of blue?
A: The shade may vary slightly based on the hen’s age, diet, and health, but a blue egg layer won’t suddenly switch to laying brown eggs.

Why We Love Collecting Colorful Eggs

There’s something magical about gathering a basket of colorful eggs from your backyard flock. On my homestead, egg collecting has become one of the most joyful daily chores.

When my son comes in with a basket containing deep chocolate brown eggs from our Marans, speckled cream eggs from our Welsummers, and those beautiful sky-blue gems from our Ameraucanas, it still makes us all excited after years of chicken keeping!

The various shades and unique appearances of these eggs remind me why I fell in love with homesteading in the first place – because of the daily surprises nature gives us.

Final Thoughts

If you’re specifically looking for the BLUEST possible eggs, I’d recommend starting with purebred Ameraucanas from a reputable breeder, followed closely by Araucanas if you can find them. For those willing to take a chance, Easter Eggers can sometimes surprise you with stunningly vibrant blue eggs at a fraction of the cost.

Whichever breed you choose, adding blue egg layers to your flock will bring a rainbow of color to your egg basket and make chicken keeping even more rewarding. There’s nothing quite like cracking open a beautiful blue egg for breakfast and knowing it came from your own backyard!

Have you had experience with blue egg layers? Which breed gave you the bluest eggs? I’d love to hear about your colorful egg adventures in the comments below!

Happy chicken keeping!